Format Restaurants Vs. Local Flavor

[justgohogs]

Which do you prefer when you're in Branson? Dear wife and I--when it's just us--usually choose local flavor. We've had some great experiences like: Billy Gails, the greek deli in downtown, The Farmhouse Restaurant, Penelopes (R.I.P.), and Little Hacienda (both in Branson and Branson West). And, some not so good. But, we always know that, if we don't like it, we don't ever have to eat there again.

[rjw1991A1]

Not just Branson, but anywhere I travel. It is, and has always been part of the adventure. Weather traveling is for recreation, or as in my working days for work.
Finding very good, and sometimes unusual places for a great meal has always been the norm, not the exception.
There are also some chains that are not available at home. So I include them in my choices as well. Friday's comes to mind, also Garfields, and I think Montanna Mike's is a franchise chain.

[kansashusker]

Local flavor for us. For me, "it's don't bite the hand that feeds you." It would be "fed me" in my case as I used to work for a business that sold to locally owned restaurants. I worked there for nearly 20 years and it's my retirement from there that will make us comfortable when that phase of our life arrives.

[LaJoe]

We probably hit it about half and half on our trips to Branson. And, as rjw mentioned, some of the chains we try in Branson are not available in our area.

[biscuitcreek]

Originally Posted by LaJoe

We probably hit it about half and half on our trips to Branson. And, as rjw mentioned, some of the chains we try in Branson are not available in our area.

We live in a rural area where we have to drive 1 -2 hours to eat at a chain restaurant (not counting fast food). We can use gift cards from our credit card rewards to eat at chains. That helps to hold down the costs of our frequent trips to Branson. We do have our local Branson favorites, too.

[can'tcatchup]

Almost 100% local.

[TuckerCove]

We are locals so we love to support local business.

I do understand though that the chains that come in do supply employment and stay open year round where many of the smaller local places close up in the winter.

[OkieAnon]

Originally Posted by biscuitcreek

We live in a rural area where we have to drive 1 -2 hours to eat at a chain restaurant (not counting fast food). We can use gift cards from our credit card rewards to eat at chains. That helps to hold down the costs of our frequent trips to Branson. We do have our local Branson favorites, too.

that's kind of the way we are, close by we have a KFC, Mazzio's, Pizza Hut, Mcdonalds, Arby's and Braums everything else is 2 plus hours away.... while we really like places like Dana's and Mcfarlains we also like going to a Famous Dave's, Fuddruckers, or some of the different pizza chain places because it is different for us,

[rjw1991A1]

Actually, even at home, it's mostly local. The amount of chains I go to are limited.
Mickey D's Almost NEVER!
Chain burgers. Culver's or Jack
Hardees Red Burrito...for Red Burrito. Much better than the "Bell"
Texas Road house.
Jimmy John's
That's about it. Too many really good eateries from dinners, and dives to bar & grill, Italian, and others to waste my money on microwaved, pre-prepped food from those RubyFridayAppleO'Charley places.

[SHOW GAL]

Originally Posted by rjw1991A1

Actually, even at home, it's mostly local. The amount of chains I go to are limited.
Mickey D's Almost NEVER!
Chain burgers. Culver's or Jack
Hardees Red Burrito...for Red Burrito. Much better than the "Bell"
Texas Road house.
Jimmy John's
That's about it. Too many really good eateries from dinners, and dives to bar & grill, Italian, and others to waste my money on microwaved, pre-prepped food from those RubyFridayAppleO'Charley places.

Glad to hear someone mention Culver's. It is very seldom mentioned on the forum and I think their cheeseburgers are delicious. Their patties are fresh and never frozen and they melt the cheese on the pattie instead of just putting a cold slice of cheese on the top. In my opinion, one of the better chains and the service at the one in Branson is very good.

[tortminder]

Originally Posted by SHOW GAL

Glad to hear someone mention Culver's. It is very seldom mentioned on the forum and I think their cheeseburgers are delicious. Their patties are fresh and never frozen and they melt the cheese on the pattie instead of just putting a cold slice of cheese on the top. In my opinion, one of the better chains and the service at the one in Branson is very good.

Back a couple of years ago I had the opportunity to do a promotional video at the opening of a Culver's with Craig Culver. He is "real people" and just as sincere in person as he seems in the commercials. It is still a family controlled business and they are very picky about who they bring on as franchisees. That goes a long way toward keeping quality up.

[rjw1991A1]

the service at the one in Branson is very good.

Culver's service is on a par with Chic-Fil-A as the absolute best of any fast food chain. As good, or better than dine-in, sit down nice restaurants.
Their food quality is also excellent. What Stake and Shake used to be before the corporate bean counters ruined them!
With the Chic-Fil-A looking like maybe a month away, Godfather's last year, and Jimmy John's as well as Culver's already established, Branson has the only chain restaurants I need on the rare times I don't go local.

[rjw1991A1]

Mostly it comes up in threads about other restaurants.

Probably because not many reviews about chains.
Mostly, cut the locations out of a map, throw them in a bag, reach in and pull one out. Gonna be the same where ever they are.

[rjw1991A1]

I don't think complaints about Mickey D's, Dairy Queen, Burger King, and Taco Bell can really be called "reviews"
Yes, warm it up in a microwave places like Applebee's, and Ruby Tuesday's get reviews from people who don't have these "Big city" cookie cutter places where they live.

[MNtraveler]

When we visit Branson we split about 50/50 between chains and local. Some of the chains we go to are quite limited chains like Montana Mikes, Cantina Laredo and Charley's Grilled Subs. Being local is no guarantee of being good. Some are excellent, some are pretty terrible. At least at a chain you have a pretty good idea of what you are going to get.